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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 01: Linebacker Jaylon Smith #9 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish walks off the field after an injury during the first quarter of the BattleFrog Fiesta Bowl against the Ohio State Buckeyes at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 1, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. The Buckeyes defeated the Fighting Irish 44-28. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 595507163

"We feel good about his situation," Jones said. "We feel like if he can come back, and even if he doesn't play this year, if he comes on back after that and goes on to a great career, then it was certainly worth the pick.

"At the end of the day, we're very comfortable that he's going to be back. Nothing is ever a given, but in any of these things that we've seen, the nerve ultimately fires and once that nerve fires, the structure of his knee is fine. We all do the ACLs in this day and time and the players recover in a great from them. I think his only unique situation is his nerve wasn't firing.

"I'm sure that scared some teams. Rightfully so, but at the end of the day, we're very comfortable that that nerve will fire and we're going to have a great player on our hands. Had he been coming out and not been hurt, it would have been a real tough decision for us between him and Ezekiel [Elliott]."

Although the Cowboys landed both players, they wouldn't have had that opportunity if they agreed to send their second and third round picks to Seattle. The Cowboys were willing to give Seattle their second and fourth in exchange for the 26th overall pick, which would have allowed Dallas to draft Memphis QB Paxton Lynch.

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The Cowboys were willing to give up a second and third to a team drafting in the teens, however, when Lynch was still on the board at 26, Dallas' best offer was a second and fourth round pick. Seattle received a second and third from Denver, who then drafted Lynch.

"Maybe in hindsight because we were willing to give up that third to move up earlier in the draft, you can certainly second-guess yourself," Jones said. "We certainly think the world of Paxton Lynch and what he can be for the Broncos, but we made a tough call. You can always second-guess yourself. Only time will tell."

Here are some other highlights from Jones' interview:

On fourth-round pick defensive end Charles Tapper:

"We had him just a notch down from [Emmanuel] Ogbah, who we liked a lot as well. We really believe that Tapper has a chance to come in here and really fit nicely as our right end. As Rod [Marinelli] said as we were talking about him, this guy could ultimately be, because of the suspensions, starting for us Day 1 when we line up to start the season."

On if the Cowboys will be looking to add any veterans that might get released to make room for rookies on other rosters:

"We always keep our eye out on the waiver wire and who is getting released. I will say this, when we were done with the draft, we were very satisfied that we could go to camp, and go into the season, barring injury, really feeling good about our football team. Now, if the right guy is out there and available for the Cowboys ... then we'll certainly be looking at it. But we did come out of the draft and out of college free agency, really feeling good about our 90-man roster, and we're ready to go to work."

On sixth-round pick, former Baylor basketball player, Rico Gathers:

"He's just a big athlete that certainly looks the part. We'll probably start him there at tight end, but who knows, he might be a defensive end. It's great to get great athletes like this. We believe that's where a lot of the defensive ends and tight ends are this day and time is in college basketball. Very few guys can make the transition like that, especially at the pro level, but we think this guy really has a chance."